The Taliban killed at least 291 Afghan security personnel over the past week, a top government official said Monday, accusing the insurgents of unleashing a wave of violence ahead of potential talks. The previous week was the “deadliest” in the country’s 19 years of conflict, said Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council, even as the insurgents dismissed the latest figures. Source France
Greek fighter jets “harassed” Turkey’s research vessel Cesme while it was sailing in international waters in the Northern Aegean, National Defense Ministry sources were cited as saying on Tuesday by Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu. Source Ekathimerini
Ireland is to extend its third coronavirus lockdown until April 5 but will partially reopen schools from March 1, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on Tuesday. The country of five million people had managed to fend off the virus relatively well until December, but has since seen cases soar, particularly due to the spread of the highly contagious British variant. Source EuroNews
Iran has said it will stop sharing video footage of its nuclear facilities. The move was described by world powers as “dangerous,” and came as the UN’s nuclear agency said it was concerned by Iran’s uranium stockpile. Source Deutsche Welle
